As I stepped outside the Parker Mansion, I tilted my head toward the night sky. The stars were faint against the city lights, but they were there—watching, distant, indifferent.
I exhaled sharply, my thoughts drifting."The marriage she turned into war…" I muttered to myself. "This novel—I still don't understand why the author wrote such a cruel plot. Why did they want Samuel to suffer so much?"
I clenched my fists.
I had lived two lives before this. In my first life, reading this novel had dragged me into months of depression. It had twisted my perception of love and marriage, making me despise the very concept. And now I was living inside it.
I scoffed. **"If this world was meant to make me believe in love again, it failed."**
A soft chime broke my train of thought as the system's blue screen materialized in front of me.
[Quest Completed]
**The Missing Heirloom** – A wealthy collector has reported that a priceless artifact has been stolen. Solve the case and retrieve the heirloom.
**Reward:** +5 Intelligence, +1 Random Ability
A prompt appeared.
[Would you like to claim your reward?]
I didn't hesitate. "Yes."
A surge of energy coursed through me as my intelligence increased. I felt it—my mind sharpening, my thoughts flowing faster, more precise.
Then, another notification appeared.
[New Ability Unlocked: The Eyes of the Eagle]
- Effect: Enhances the user's vision, allowing them to read movements in combat with heightened precision. This ability is now a natural part of the body, meaning the user's eyes will always function with eagle-like awareness.
I smirked. "Now that's more like it."
This ability wasn't just useful—it was perfect. In a fight, reading movements was everything.And now? I wouldn't just react. I'd predict, analyze, and counter before my opponent even knew what happened.
I stretched my fingers, feeling the slight shift in my perception. Even in the dim streetlights, I could now see the subtle shifts in the air, the smallest details around me. This was power.
But enough of that.
I turned on my heel and muttered, "Time to go back to the villa."
Returning to the Villa – Abigail's Absence
As I arrived, I immediately noticed something. Abigail wasn't home.
I let out a dry chuckle. "Every time she gets upset in the novel, she runs straight to Joshua for comfort. Typical."
But it wasn't my concern anymore.
I walked through the grand entrance, heading straight to my room. The house felt strangely empty, but that only made it more peaceful.
Once inside, I closed the door behind me and let out a breath. "System, show my current status."
A blue screen materialized once again, displaying my updated stats.
[Status Window]
Name: Samuel Gebb
Possessed By: Heavenly Demon
Level: 14 (+ After completing the Heirloom Quest)
Strength: 90
Agility: 88
Endurance: 80
Intelligence: 103 (+5 from quest)
Charisma: 97
I studied the screen, taking in every detail.
Level 14.
Over 100 Intelligence.
The power to predict movements.
I smirked. "This body… is finally catching up."
But this was just the beginning. Morgrath was still coming. The real battle hadn't even started.
I leaned back against the chair, closing my eyes for a moment. The next step was . choosing my next move wisely.
And I had 70 hours left before the real fight began.
Sitting in my chair, I casually scrolled through my phone when a notification popped up on the daily news.
My eyes skimmed over the headline, and the smirk on my lips only widened.
[Breaking News: Abigail Bardot and Joshua Levine Spotted Entering Bardot Hotel Together – Embracing Passionately Before Retreating to Their Room. Lights Went Out Moments Later.]
I chuckled. "Finally… the moment I've been waiting for."
The comment section was already flooded with opinions.
"Wow, the country's favorite couple is finally happening! Joshua and Abigail look so good together!"
"Samuel should just divorce her already. Why is he clinging to a loveless marriage?"
"Joshua is more charismatic than Samuel anyway."
I let out a slow, amused exhale. "They really think I'm the loser in this story?"
Leaning back, I casually dialed a number. The phone rang for a second before a sultry, confident voice answered.
"Hello, Mr. Gebb."
I smirked. "Hello, Ms. Cassandra."
Cassandra Aloha. The Queen of the Film Industry. The one woman Abigail never wanted to cross. Her unparalleled beauty, her power in the media, and her ability to influence public perception made her untouchable.
And she just happened to be my trump card.
"Are you ready to publish that news?" I asked smoothly.
A playful chuckle came from the other end. "Mr. Gebb, considering how effortlessly you carry yourself, I'm starting to wonder—why do we need to fake this news? Let's make it real."
I laughed. "Ms. Aloha, you already know I'm done with love and marriage. But once this news gets out, Abigail will finally understand what it means to cross my warnings."
Her laughter was silk and poison mixed together. "As you say, Mr. Gebb."
The call ended, and I turned my attention back to my phone screen, watching the public meltdown over Abigail and Joshua's scandal.
Minutes Later –
[BREAKING NEWS: Queen of Film Industry Cassandra Aloha Spotted Entering Royal Hotel with Samuel Gebb – The Two Were Seen Kissing and Flirting Before Entering Their Private Suite. Lights Went Out Moments Later, and "Mysterious Sounds" Were Heard From Their Room!]
I smirked. "Perfect timing."
The comment section was exploding.
Women flooded the posts with admiration:
"WOW! A Greek God and an angel together?! How is this even possible?!"
"Samuel Gebb's physique is out of this world! Like he was crafted by the gods themselves!"
"I wish I was Cassandra… just imagine being in his arms!"
And then there were those who were utterly confused.
"Wait a damn minute. Isn't Samuel supposed to be heartbroken?"
"No way… this is the same man Abigail treated like a joke?"
"He upgraded to Cassandra? AHAHA, Abigail fumbled BADLY!"
I leaned back in my chair, letting the chaos unfold.
"I warned you, Abigail. Cross the limits, and I'll cross them far worse than you ever imagined."
As I refreshed the page, another article popped up.
[Public Poll: Who's the Better Couple?
Abigail & Joshua – 32%
Samuel & Cassandra – 68%]
I let out a slow, amused chuckle.
"Checkmate."